FIFA 06

Although cosmetically it looks pretty much the same as last year��s game, FIFA 06 has undergone some fairly major changes. The biggest tweaks have been made to the controls, which now come with a variety of options. Last year��s integration of the ��first touch�� system is still fully intact (and somehow more intuitive, although that may well be because of my familiarity with it this time), and it��s now joined by a revamped free-kick system, improved tackles that feel significantly more natural, and on-the-fly tactical changes that allow you to feel more like a team captain. A frustration with previous FIFAs was their lack of adequate support for the one-two pass. This fundamental move was previously possible only by passing into space and keeping your fingers crossed, but it��s now recognized by the game��s logic as something that you might actually want to do.

Just like Madden in recent years, there��s a huge emphasis on the career mode, and the 15-year business that it simulates has you tinkering with ticket prices, sponsorships, and team morale. It��s addictive stuff that can prompt greater respect for the broader aspects of the sport. Once I dug in, the actual matches started to become a distraction. Screw the game��I want to know if the fan shop is selling shirts!

As is the norm in sports games now, FIFA 06 is packed with challenges outside of the tournament and career modes, and the reward system feeds into another

welcome trend: retro appreciation. Old-school players open up when you beat ��classic�� squads, and there��s even a lovingly re-created version of the original Genesis game, FIFA 1994, on the disc. My only major disappointment is that the juggling minigame from the PSP version doesn��t show up here!

Verdict: Play on the field or in the management office��both work surprisingly well.

Rating: 4.5

Pub. EA Sports Dev. EA Canada ESRB E MSRP $49.99

Copyright © 2005 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine.